Email from Senator Bill DeSteph Week 3 Recap   Good evening John xxxxxx, As the Legislative Session continues in Richmond, I want to share an update on several issues that have received significant attention this week and explain where things currently stand. Legislation Considered This Week A number of bills advanced by members of the Senate—several of which I supported or patroned—did not move forward. These measures addressed a range of topics including small business costs, public safety, election administration, tax policy, and local government authority. While reasonable people may disagree on policy outcomes, I believe it is important for constituents to be aware of proposals that were offered and the goals behind them. Among the measures considered were bills to: SB 11 (DeSteph): Repeals the styrofoam ban, saving small businesses hundreds in inventory costs. SB 12 (DeSteph): Addresses marijuana odor in traffic stops, giving law enforcement more tools in DUI/DWI cases. SB 46 (Craig): Limits early voting to 15 days, saving taxpayers and local registrars thousands in operating costs. SB 78 (Diggs): Increases mandatory minimums for certain repeat firearm offenses to keep criminals off the streets. SB 397 (Diggs): Shifts courthouse construction costs to repeat violent offenders instead of law-abiding taxpayers. SB 544 (Cifers): Requires photo identification at polling locations. SB 552 (Sturtevant): Increases oversight of data center placement and requires public hearings for zoning input. SB 572 (Reeves): Creates a retail sales and use tax exemption for contractors working on public improvement projects with the Commonwealth. SB 696 (Jordan): Reduces the corporate income tax rate from 6% to 2.25% over three years. SB 799 (Durant): Repeals the car (personal property) tax, saving Virginians roughly $2 billion annually and the average working family over $1,000 a year. Although these proposals did not advance, the underlying concerns—affordability, public safety, and government accountability—remain front and center in my colleagues and my work. Redistricting Court Decision This week, a major court victory in McDougle v. Nardo occurred, challenging Democrats’ attempt to push the redistricting constitutional amendment (HJR 6007) through the 2024 Special Session. The court ruled the General Assembly violated its own Special Session rules and failed to satisfy constitutional and statutory requirements, meaning everything tied to HJR 6007 in that Special Session was never legally valid. The court also found the required “intervening House election” has not occurred because early voting for the 2025 election began before HJR 6007 passed—so the next eligible election cannot be until 2027—and that Virginia’s public notice requirements in Va. Code § 30-13 were not followed, making any claimed “second vote” in 2026 ineffective. An appeal has been filed, and the matter will continue through the courts. I will keep you all informed as the case develops. Winter Weather and Energy Reliability Last weekend’s winter storm highlighted the importance of reliable energy generation. Despite challenging conditions, widespread power outages were largely avoided. This outcome underscores the value of maintaining a diverse and dependable energy portfolio—particularly sources that perform consistently during peak demand and severe weather. Legislation has been introduced to ensure utilities prioritize reliability and affordability when planning future generation. These discussions will continue as we balance environmental goals with practical energy needs.  Tax Hikes and Soft-on-Crime Policies On Thursday morning, the Senate Republican Caucus held a press conference where Caucus Leader McDougle and Caucus Chair Obenshain highlighted the destructive taxes being pushed by the Democrat majority, along with soft-on-crime policies that will likely put more criminals back into our neighborhoods. Democrat proposed tax hikes include: • New local sales tax in all Virginia counties and cities • New income tax brackets • Delivery tax (Amazon, Uber Eats, FedEx, UPS orders in Northern Virginia) • Rideshare tax (Uber/Lyft) • Storage unit tax • Gym membership tax • Dog walking tax • Dog grooming tax • Counseling tax • Kindle tax • Vehicle repair tax • Home repair tax • Dry cleaning tax and unfortunately, that's not all. See more: WJLA is a VA based station and an ABC Television affiliate In addition, House Democrats have introduced HB 863 to eliminate mandatory minimums for a wide range of serious offenses, including violent felonies and other crimes involving firearms, drugs, and child exploitation. Here is a list of some of the serious crimes that would have their mandatory minimums stripped: Rape Forcible Sodomy Violation of a Protective Order Malicious bodily injury of a Law-Enforcement Officer or Fire Fighter 2nd Conviction of certain felony sexual assaults: + Carnal Knowledge of a child between 13-15 years old. + Sexual Intercourse with one own’s child or grandchild Manufacturing, selling, or distributing methamphetamine 2nd DUI conviction Possession of a firearm by convicted felons Possession, reproduction, or financing of child pornography  Staying Engaged I know legislative sessions can feel frustrating, especially when progress is slow or outcomes are uncertain. I encourage you to stay engaged, ask questions, and hold all elected officials accountable. Your involvement matters, and I remain committed to representing your concerns and keeping you informed.  Thank you for the opportunity to serve. Warm regards, Visit My Website Winter Weather Safety General Assembly Week in Photos Senator Bill DeSteph | www.billdesteph.com Authorized and Paid for by Friends of Bill DeSteph for Senate Senator Bill DeSteph | 588 Central Drive | Virginia Beach, VA 23454 US Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Constant Contact Data Notice